Three memoirs on the development and structure of the teeth and epithelium : read at the ninth annual meeting of the British Association for the Encouragement of Science, held at Birmingham, in August, 1839 : with diagrams exhibited in illustration of them / by Alexander Nasmyth.

  • Nasmyth, Alexander, 1789-1849.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Three memoirs on the development and structure of the teeth and epithelium : read at the ninth annual meeting of the British Association for the Encouragement of Science, held at Birmingham, in August, 1839 : with diagrams exhibited in illustration of them / by Alexander Nasmyth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    Being professionally much interested in researches connected with Odontology, and having been personally engaged in such pursuits, my attention was directed to the microscopic investigations of Professor Retzius, of Sweden. I obtained the loan of a copy of his original account of these researches, which, from their appearing to me to form a new era in Odontology, I immediately had translated into English, with a view to publication. In the course of my own inquiries, I applied to Mr. Owen, the conservator of the museum of the College to which I belong, to point out to me such preparations as might throw light on the subject of my pursuit. Mr. Owen having come to the knowledge that I was in pos- session of the translation above mentioned, borrowed it of me. Seeing that Mr. Owen was interested in the subject, I wrote a letter to him, inquiring whether he had any intention of publishing upon it, and saying that, if he had, I would relinquish my arrangements, and assist him to the utmost of my power. He sent me, in answer, a letter in the following- terms: July 25, 1838. Dear Nasmyth :—Many things have intervened to prevent my returning you the translation of Retzius earlier, but as you have not sent for it, I hope without inconvenience to you. As I have before said, I have neither desire nor object in bringing before the public any of the general observations on the structure of the ' teeth, which I once hoped were new, but now perceive ' to be mainly anticipated by the industrious and sharp- ' sighted Swede. It will obviously, however, be a source of ' great credit,and a matter of importance, to whoever prac- ' tising in the line of dental surgery should combine ' these discoveries with the practical or remedial part of the science. And 1 have only again to add, how happy